January 23, 2013: Menhaden Makes a Splash

At first glance, the menhaden is not a glamorous fish - it's not one that is brilliantly colored or one that you would find on a restaurant menu.

Also known as "bunker", "pogy" or "bugmouth", this bony, oily fish, is a humble fish. But there's more than meets the eye when it comes to the menhaden. The menhaden has several critical roles for countless creatures under the sea, leading some to refer to it as "the most important fish in the sea."

Late last year, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission made history by voting to limit the catch of this critical species of fish. By putting a catch limit on menhaden, the ASMFC has given conservationists hope that enough fish can stay in the water to fulfill their ecological role.